College sports around the Empire

SRJC baseball honors

So good was Santa Rosa Junior College’s baseball team nearly the entire starting lineup earned post season honors.

Pitcher Jason Alexander was a Northern California All-American selection in addition to making First Team All Big 8 Conference. The All-Empire right hander from Cardinal Newman was second in the conference with 8 wins and fifth with a 1.69 earned run average.

Also making First Team All Big 8 Conference were: Pitchers Tyler Sanders, Rancho Cotate, second in the Big 8 with 6 saves; Brian Bynum, Loomis, second on the team for innings pitched; Outfielder Ryan Xepoleas, Loomis, team leader in hits; and infielder Brent Gillespie, Rancho Cotate, fourth in the conference with 33 runs batted in and tied for third with 3 home runs.

Second Team All Big 8 Conference honors went to: First baseman Anthony Sequeria, Petaluma high, team leader for runs batted in and doubles; infielder Nico Filice, Cardinal Newman, second on the team for batting average; and outfielder Siosi Poti, Rancho Cotate, third in the conference with 14 stolen bases.

Earning the Bear Cubs distinction in the classroom was Brandon Baranzini. The former All-Empire player from Montgomery high was an All-State Academic Team selection.

SRJC head coach Damon Neidlinger shared Big 8 coach of the year honors and was named the top skipper in Northern California.

Santa Rosa was the top ranked team in Northern California and reached the state final four.